Improvement in sponge-cups



.UNITED STATES,

WILLIAM R. GRATZ, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPONGE-CUPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [75,694. dated April 4, 1876 application filed March 15, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. GRATZ, of Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Sponge-Cup; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, ref erence b ein g had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in whieh- Figure 1 -is a vertical section; Fig. 2, a plan View.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved sponge-cup, which will not become dry so soon and require such frequent wetting'. The invention is more particularly designed for use in counting-houses, banks, post-offices, and in all other business establishments in which it is desired to have the fingers Wet for counting money or papers, or for wetting postage-stamps, envelopes, Ste. It is also generally applicable for all clerical use as a penwiper. It consists, mainly, in a sponge contained in a perforated receptacle maintained in an elevated position in a water-reservoir by means of a spring', so that as the sponge becomes dry its humidity may from time to time be renewed by simply depressing the sponge, which brings it in contact with the water in the reservoir.

In the drawing, A represents the outer containing-ease, which is preferably made or" wood, and suitably tinished. B is the Water-reservoir, fitting nicely in the outer case and preferably made ot'A china, glass, or other eartheuware. O is a volute spiral spring resting below upon the bottom ofthe Water-reservoir, and supporting upon its upper end the spongereceptacle D. The latter is made of perforated sheet metal `or any other suitable material, and contains the sponge E, which is covered by a fibrous facing, F, secured at its edges to the sponge-receptacle by an encompassing.

metal band, a. The sponge receptacle, being forced upwardly by the spring7 is prevented from coming out by a iianged ring, b, which is spun out of thin metal. The said ring laps over the edge of the sponge upon one edge, and its flanged edge is bent into -a peripheral groove around the water-reservoir, near its rim, which serves to hold the parts against the elasticity of the spring. In charging the sponge-cup withwater the sponge is depressed by the lingers unt-i1 the receptacle for the same is upon the bottom of the waterreservoir. The water is then poured in and the sponge pressed until thoroughly saturated, and the reservoir afterward completely filled.

Thesponge-eup, as thus charged, will keep in good condition for an indefinite length of time by depressing, from time to time, the sponge, thus avoiding much inconvenience and delay attending the use of the old form, and obviating, also, the unhealthful and disagreeable use ofthe tongue for the same purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. lhe combination, with a waterreservoir and a perforated sponge-receptacle contained therein, of a spring arranged to hold the sponge in an elevated position, as described, and for the purpose setforth.

2. The combination of the case A, reservoir- B, spring U, sponge-receptacle D, the sponge E, fibrous facing F, fastening-band a, and the flanged ring b, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 7th d ay of March, 1876.

' WILLIAM ROBERT GRATZ. Witnesses:

SoLoN U. KEMON,

GHAs. A. PETTIT.

PATENT CFFGE. 

